A campaign to attract more workers to Maine got a $100,000 boost Thursday from the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.

Live and Work in Maine, an online collaborative that promotes Maine’s regional quality of life and employment opportunities at more than 100 partner companies, won the award in a competitive bidding process, according to a release from the state. It will use the money to expand marketing efforts.

“This partnership will accelerate efforts to engage the estimated 34 million visitors to Maine each year and expand resources and opportunities to Maine employers pertaining to workforce attraction and retention,” said George Gervais, DECD commissioner, in the release.

Last summer, the organization established kiosks in the state’s visitor centers to introduce tourists to the notion of living and working in Maine.

It expects to launch a new job board in 2017, where job seekers can learn more about specific employment opportunities, send resumes directly to employers, and find more information about the culture and mission of Maine businesses. The site also includes testimonials from professionals who have relocated to Maine, details on internships and first career options for college students and new graduates, and information on the lifestyle offered by each of Maine’s eight geographic regions.

Additionally, the DECD expects to work with Digital Research Group of Kennebunk to gather more workforce attraction-related data. The company has previously conducted tourism studies for the Maine Office of Tourism. A profile of overnight visitors in 2015 showed that 36 percent of visiting business owners or CEOs indicated they would be very likely to relocate, expand, or start a business in Maine at some point in the future.

“Maine’s labor market will continue to tighten as baby boomers retire,” said Maine Department of Labor Commissioner Jeanne Paquette in the release. “Recruiting new workers to move to our state, and bring their families, is a critical element of our long-term workforce development strategy. We will need workers now and in the future to sustain economic growth. This is a high priority for both DECD and the Department of Labor as we work together to build a brighter future for Mainers.”


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.

filed under: